Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 13:26:07 -0800
From: Clare Howell
Subject: IYF - Tyra Hunter Wrongful Death Trials Opens
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org
TYRA HUNTER WRONGFUL DEATH TRIAL OPENS
======================================
[Washington, D.C.: 11 Nov 98] THE WRONGFUL DEATH
trial of transwoman Tyra Hunter opened on Monday.
Hunter's mother, Margie Hunter, brought the $10
million suit against a city Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) and a doctor at D.C. General
Hospital for contributing to Tyra's death in
1995.
Hunter was riding in a car that was
involved in an accident on 7 Aug 95. The suit
alleges that, as Hunter lay critically injured
in the street, EMT Andrian Williams stopped
administering first aid when he discovered
Hunter's male genitals. "This ain't no bitch...
He's got a dick and balls," Williams allegedly
said and backed away from Hunter, joking and
snickering for 5-7 minutes, while horrified
onlookers implored him to treat Tyra.
The suit also alleges that the doctor
treating Hunter at D.C. General was not properly
certified and failed to get Hunter to surgery to
stop her internal bleeding.
Both sides made opening statements on
Tuesday. The trial resumes on Thursday. This case
is being closely followed by national gay and
lesbian groups as well as the transgender
community.
###
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------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1998 02:47:11 -0800
From: Clare Howell
Subject: IYF - Tyra Hunter Wrongful Death Trial Continues
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMMENTARY: THE TYRA HUNTER WRONGFUL DEATH TRAIL
================================================
[New York, NY: 15 Nov 98] There is a presence at
this trial, unseen and unacknowledged, but intimately
connected to the issues being argued. This presence is
Tyra herself. The proceedings of the first week saw
evidence about Tyrone Hunter's last hours, of how
Emergency Room personnel erred or didn't in administer-
ing life-saving measures at the hospital. All mentions
of the victim are "Tyrone," "he," and "this man."
Evidently Margie Hunter (Tyra's mother), who
brought the $10 million suit, and her attorney feel
that any mention of Tyra's lifestyle will alienate
the jury. Yet the incident at the heart of this case
revolves around Tyra's transexuality: an EMT ceased
giving her first aid at the accident scene when he
discovered her male genitals. That is, the EMT
thought he was aiding a critically injured woman
and, upon discovering genitals that didn't match
his perception of her, backed off and started
making jokes, leaving her unattended for 5-7 crucial
minutes.
We don't know how Tyra self-identified.
She died at 24; she may have been on her way to
exploring many possibilities of gender expression.
But we do know that she chose the name Tyra, that
she presented as a woman. When she died, she was
living the life of a woman.
Perhaps we will see Tyra emerge at this trial,
if and when her mother's attorney makes an issue of the
incident at the scene of the accident. Perhaps not. But
for transgender observers, so far, it is sad to see one
of us erased, as if she had never existed. When the
going is light, we're amusing. When the going gets
serious, we are unmentionable.
-- Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org
Subscriptions. Please contact:
Subscribe@Gpac.org
For prior releases, check the
GenderPAC website at:
http://www.gpac.org
(c) 1998 InYourFace
GenderPAC's online news-only
service for gender activism.